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H. D. WEAR & F. J. MAGINNIS.

AUTOMATIC DOOR RELEASER.

APPLICATION FILED APR-19,1916.

Patented Aug. 22, 1916.-

2 SHiETS-SHEET l.

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vi Mwwc 54M 07- 7%- H. n. WEAR & F. J. MAGINNIS.

AUTOMATIC DOOR RELEASER.

APPLICATION FILED APR-18, 191a.

Patented Aug. 22,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Rania] w m "UNITED STATES PATENT} oFmoE.

HERBERT D. WEAR AND FRANK J. MAGINNIS, OF LAKE CITY MINNESOTA, ASSIGNORS OF ONE -THIBI) TO FRED J. LUTH, OF CITY, -MINNESQTA.

1,195,882. Speciiicati T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HERBERT D. Viral: and FRANK J. Mxoixu s, citizens of the United States, residing at Lake City, in the county of lVabasha and State of Minnesota, 2 have invented new an useful Improvements in Automatic Door-Releasers; of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates-to door -operatmg mechanism and more particularly to mechanism designed for opening and closing the tonneau doors of an automobile, with the controlling means arranged'so that it may be actuated by the driver without' the necessity of leaving his position at the wheel.

The invention is particularly directed to a mechanism. duplicated for each rear door, and including a means for unlatchingthe door and subsequently swinging the door to 20 an open position, the mechanism being adapted for reverse movement to swing the door to a closed position-where it is autovmatically latched, the invention 'including the provision of means whereby the driver 25 may selectively operate-the mechanism for either door. or simultaneously operate both doors at will. Y

The invention in the preferred form of details will be described in the following specification, reference being had'pai'ticularly to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in elevationof the improved mechanism. a sufficient portion of 35 the automobile being illustrated diagrammatically to show the position of the parts. Fig. 2 is a planview ofthe same. Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a plan of the drivers control mechanism. Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the connection with the hinge of the door.

In the preferred embodiment of. the pres' ent invention illustrated in Figs. 1' to 5, inelusive, there is mounted in the forward portion of the vehicle, preferably convenient to the driver, a transverse shaft 1, on which is supported the operating parts for the respective doors. As these parts are in duplicate, a 'detaihdescription of one will suflice for both, it being understood that the respective duplicate parts are located inspaced relation on and in effect at opposite ends of the shaft 1. The operating mechanism includes a sleeve member 2. freely ro- AUTOMATIC DOOR-RELEASE.

on of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 18, 1916. Serial No. 91,945.

usually employed for holding the door 13 in Patented Aug. 22,1916.

rigid upright arm 3, and from which .de-

pends a rigid operating member 4, the detailed description of which will later appear. To the upper end of the arm 3 is secured a rod 5 which extends rearwardly to a position slightly in advance of the door to be operated, and is connected to an upright rod 6 pivotally connected at T in a bracket 8 secured to afixed part of the machine. The upper end of the rod 6 is in turn connected to a rod 9, which is at its rear end in engagement with a plunger 10 mounted for operating movement andguided in a bracket 11. The bracket 11 is arranged in such position with relation ,to the latch 12,

closed position. that in the relatively rearward movement of the plunger the latch will be forced to a position beyond the keeper, to thus free it for opening movement. To the lower end of the operating member 4 is connected-a rod ll which extends to a position in rear of the door to be.

opened and is there connected to an upright rod 15 pivotally secured at 16, in a bracket 17, fixed to the automobile structure. The upper end of the rod 15 is slidably mounted upon a rod 18. 'which latter is slidably mounted in brackets 19 secured to the auto mobile structure: Collars 20 are fixed'upon the rod 18 on opposite sides of the rod 15, and intermediate the collars and said rod 15 are arranged co'iled' springs 21, these springs being of appropriate tension for the work to be performed. The rod 18 nor-' mally terminatingsomewhat in rear of the door 13 and preferably in alinement with one of the hinges thereof. That end of the rod 18 next the door is pivofally connected to a link 22, which extends through the immediately adjacent hinge leaf 23, and is pivotally connected at 24. to the remaining hinge leaf 25. The hinge leaf 25, which is the leaf connected to the door, is therefore fixed against other than a pivotalmovement with respect to the link, while the latter .moves freely through the hingedeaf 23,

, .to favor the operating end thereof, whereby 55' tatable on the shaft 1, from which extends a ry strength vto display the leaf, while the rod "15 is mountedto favor the upper portionthere'of whereby to increase the movement of said end with respectto the opposite end., As previously noted the mechanisms so far described are duplicated, one for eachdoor, and the operating members 4 are thus arranged side by side on the shaft 1, as will be plain from Fig,'2. A pedal 26 is mounted for, lateral swinging movement at. 27 upon a bracket28, which in turn is rotatablys'upported upon the shaft mg members 4 The pedal is provided on each side with lugs 29,an d the operating the vpedal may be locked in sition at the will of theuser. In this form operatin members provided formed to be engaged pression of the pedal; vided in advance of its by the lugs in the de- The rod 14 is pro-v connection with the operating member 4 with a rod extension 31 a which is provided with a terminal disk 32, between which and a bracket 33, fixed on the automobile structure, is arranged a coiled spring 44. The pedal 26 is provided with a foot piece 35 and preferably with a depending notched-bar 36- to engage a dog 37, fixed on the automobile "structure whereby any desired poof the device it will be understood that the driver on depressing the pedal locks the member to independently move forwar y the shaft '5 and rearwardly the, shaft 14. The forward movement of the shaft 5, will, from the'obvious movement of the. partsconnected therewith cause an open- 111g movement of the latch, thus unlocking ,central position, may,

1, between the operatpressilon,

with extensions 30 During this operation, the rear-' ;member to normal position. thus open-t. 1

for the effect to cause the'reverse movement of the hinge plates and independently close the door, the latching operation'of the door being automatic asthe plunger 10 has been withdrawn. i X

From Fig. 2 it will be apparent that by the pivotal support of the ,pedal the latter may be swung laterally to engage either operating member at will, and hence operate either door at will, or if maintained in a through a single deoperate both doors simultaneously. It as of course to ,be understood that all operating parts, except those in which accessibility is required for operation, such as the pedal, will be concealed between the walls, of the automobile, and under the body, 1 so that practically no part of the device is visible'to the occupant What is claimed is:, 14'A dooroperating mechanism including a shaft, an operating member mountedfthereof the tonneau.

-on, rodsconnected to the operating member on the respective sides of .the shaft, an unlatching mechanism connected to one rod, and

connected to the'sprin tensionmg, mechanism and operable so ely thereby, and a pedal to engage-and actuate the operating anda spring tensioning member connected to the other rod, a door swinging mechanism connected to the spring tensioning mecha- "nisin and operable solely thereby, and a pedal to engage and actuate the operating member, means for returning the operating In testimony whereof we afix our signatures. J

HERBERT D. WEAR. FRANK J. GINN IS.

a spring tensioning member connected j to the other rod, a door swinging mechanism the operating member 7 

